Cave exploring in Coopers Rock State Park, WV Officially, Labor Day is a federal holiday in the United States, meaning government offices, post offices, banks and schools are closed. Labor Day, which recognizes the contributions of American workers, falls each year on the 1st Monday in September. Unofficially, Labor Day quietly marks the end of summer. For many families, the long Labor Day weekend is an opportunity to squeeze in one more summer adventure. When I was growing u

In 1921, Fred R. Barnard published an ad in the trade journal, Printers' Ink, with the headline "One look is worth a thousand words" as a way to promote advertising on street cars. Six years later, in March of 1927, Barnard changed this phrase ever so slightly for a Royal Baking Powder advertisement featured in, none other than, the Printer’s Ink. However, he falsely claimed the revised version was an ancient Chinese proverb, so people would take it more seriously. Because of

Generally speaking, horns are one of those items I tend to avoid when I go antiquing. These weathered instruments with their dilapidated cases are often found tucked away in the back corner of antique shops. A lifetime of neglect leaves little room for the imagination. Yet, despite my misgivings, we've actually acquired a couple of brass horns along the way. One is an old trombone that belonged to my husband's grandfather, many years ago. After he passed away, my husband inhe

Despite the years, or rather decades, that have passed since I turned 18, I remember it being a significant milestone in my life. Months beforehand, I came up with a list of things I wanted to do as I ushered in this special day. At the top of this list, in the #1 spot, was something nearly every American, from the age of 5 to 105, has experienced at least once in their lifetime, but not me. Up to that point, I had a very rich and fulfilling life, yet somewhere along the wa

Three generations: me, my mom, & my daughter The birth of the roadside attraction began in the late 1920s with the rising popularity of the automobile. However, it was the expansion of highways throughout the U.S. in the 1950s that brought about the family vacation boom. As Americans took to the roads in record numbers, roadside attractions were built to lure tourist to local businesses along the way. Many of the roadside attractions from that era are still scattered across t

Statue of Liberty This past weekend, my family and I visited two iconic American destinations, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. On the 2nd floor of the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration is a room, which highlights the steps necessary to achieve citizenship in the United States. At one of the interactive displays was a sample citizenship test. The United States citizenship test is designed to evaluate a person’s English proficiency as well as their knowledge o

I received a card in the mail yesterday from a sweet friend. As I pulled the hand written note from its envelope, I was suddenly transported to a time void of social media and texting, a time of personal connections. Growing up, cards were sent to comfort, cheer, and console. At times, they were simply sent to say, "I was thinking of you today." Whatever the occasion, cards were a way to connect with others. Somewhere along the road to progress, we lost that skill. Many years

Stained glass at Washington Memorial Chapel My Mom was rather enterprising as I was growing up. In fact, it was not uncommon for her to learn a new skill only to make it profitable within a few months. From macrame to cross-stitch, my Mom was always engaged in a project and a sale. At one point, she even learned to do stained glass. Once again, she turned her talents into a small business. As her business was gaining traction, my Mom would occasionally drive to NYC to pick u

With intense heatwaves popping up across the country and around the globe, it's clear, the dog days of summer are upon us. Generally speaking, the dog days run between July 3rd and August 11th, kicking off some of the hottest, most humid days of the year. The term "dog days" actually hails from astronomy, not man's best friend. This period of intense heat corresponds with the rising of Sirius, the Dog Star, which is part of the Canis Major constellation. The Dog Star seemed

In the months between 1st and 2nd grade, I moved from Germany to the United States. As the lazy days of summer gradually faded away, I knew it wouldn’t be long before I would be starting a new school year in a new school. This would be my first experience attending school in America. It would also be my first experience with the ritual known as “back to school shopping”. With my grandparents now a mere 10 miles away rather than 3,000 miles away, I had plenty of exposure to th

Curtains are the quiet staples of any room, bringing a look together through color, style and texture. Oftentimes, the price of curtains can make them feel more like a luxury item then a decorating staple. Whenever I want to update my curtains without the designer price tag, I dust off my faithful sewing machine. Here are two easy curtain projects that I've done, which required minimal effort, minimal supplies and minimal talent. The Modified Shower Curtain When my husband an

From castles and canals to sand dunes and mountains, I have explored some of the most incredible locations in the world, which has greatly enriched my life. Yet, I distinctly remember rushing through the lower level of the Frankfurt Airport, many years ago. As my family and I navigated our way from one end of the airport to the other, I was hit by a very distinct scent. The more it wafted through the air, I was finally able to identify this familiar aroma as being none other

Our daughter at Fort McHenry, Maryland This July 4th, our nation will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which occurred in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia on July 4th of 1776. With the unofficial start of summer over the Memorial Day weekend, unique and exciting patriotic events are taking place from coast to coast, as we usher in this semiquincentennial milestone of our nation. If you're lookin

Three years ago today, we lost our home to a fire. Without a home to call our own, our family of five bounced from one hotel to the next, but this was no vacation. In time, we were able to find a furnished house to rent, while our home was being rebuilt. During the nine and a half months that followed, it was a mad dash to replace the entirety of our home. That included all the items we lost in the fire from bedroom furniture to band-aids and everything in between. In April

I love a good project! However, some DIY projects can be out of reach for the every day homeowner. While I've done my share of large scale home projects over the years, there's something to be said for the "20 minute project" that can bring a spark of creativity to a home. This week, I added a much needed pop to a small corner wall in our guest bedroom. This project began with a box of alphabet cards from Colonial Williamsburg. After measuring the cards, I picked up four 5x7

The average summer vacation for children in the United States runs between 10-12 weeks. This is the event students look forward to all year long. However, by the third or fourth week of vacation, boredom can start to settle into to an otherwise perfect scenario. Here are some of the "tried & true" activites we've put to the test in our own family, making summer feel like the adventure it should be. Make It Monday (click title for more information) Make It Mondays was a summ

Me (on the left) at Kinderdijk From frosted cakes illuminated by colorful candles to family and friends enthusiastically singing the “Happy Birthday” song, birthdays are fueled by traditions. Yet, birthdays do more than simply mark the passing of time, from one year to the next. They help to reinforce our identity, through repeated meaningful experiences. The message sent reminds us that we are loved. Research in developmental psychology shows that when we intentionally celeb

As we usher in the Memorial Day weekend, we enter the season of picnics, BBQs, and pool parties. Summer offers a vast array of fruits and vegetables by which to create the perfect salad for any occasion. Here are 5 of my “tried and true” summer salads. Grape Salad The tart green grapes of this non-traditional salad are the perfect complement to the coating, which tastes similar to cheesecake. 4 lbs. green grapes 8 oz. cream cheese, softened 8 oz. sour cream ½ c. sugar 2 t.

5 Generations of Women As far back as I can remember, I’ve always had a love of reading. Rather than getting candy or even a small toy when I went to the store with my Mom, I would choose to get a book. This is how I added to my personal library, one book at a time. Oftentimes, I would collect books from a series. Some of my favorites were the tried and true Golden Books, the Illustrated Classics by Moby Books, Sweet Pickles and the I Can Read It All By Myself collection by

I have been a Mom for a quarter of a century now, which hardly seems possible. Through the years, our children have gone from curious toddlers to ambitious adults. As they entered various stages of life, they were as prepared as I was proud. In the beginning, these stages brought about small milestones. However, as our children got older, they began achieving more significant milestones, which ultimately took them beyond the walls of our home. One by one, our children went ou